Monday, October 19, 2015

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 19 (PIA) – In time with the 8th
Agricultural Extension Workers' Congress by the Department of Agriculture (DA)
Caraga held on Friday at the Almont Hotel's Inland Resort here, the department
in partnership with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga launched the
“AgriVisory” Text Blasting Campaign on Climate Change.

“The PIA Caraga has been our partner in
disseminating our programs and services to the public, and now is another
milestone for us to further strengthen our good working relationship. This
time, they will be sending our daily “AgriVisory” to our farmer-beneficiaries
in the different provinces thru PIA’s textblast,” remarked Mabeza.

Mabeza also expressed her optimism that through
this effort, many of its famer-beneficiaries will be updated daily and will
spread the good news to co-farmers in their respective community.

Also, on behalf of regional director Abner Caga,
deputy regional director Fryan Abkilan thanked the department for the continued
partnership and utilization of the agency’s daily advocacy.

“The PIA’s textblast is one of our many platforms
to inform the public of the government’s programs and services. It is designed
to boost public service by sending news and information through text messaging
free of charge,” disclosed Abkilan.

Abkilan further revealed that the PIA Caraga is
the first region to implement this platform, with the objective to automate and
expedite its operations, specifically the dissemination of advisories, news and
warnings to the national and local government officials, police, military
personnel, barangay officials, media and the general public.

During the congress and ceremonial sending of
textblast, participants received several agri tips sent to their registered
cellphone numbers from PIA.

Meanwhile, all the participants were able to view
and download thru their smartphones the PIA Caraga’s latest innovation – the
One Mindanao mobile application, where the textblasts are also posted real
time.

“Aside from our textblast, our mobile app is also
a life-saving app that provides tips that will also help people better-ride out
a disaster. It is a learning tool for preparedness for individuals, their
families, and entire communities before, during, and after disasters. And by
recognizing an emergency quickly, you give a person a better chance to survive.
In PIA, we always value the information we receive, no matter how small it is,”
stressed Abkilan. (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

DA gathers agri workers in Butuan

By Jennifer P. Gaitano

BUTUAN CITY, Oct. 19 (PIA) – Some 800 participants
comprising the provincial/city/municipal agriculturists, veterinarians and
agricultural extension workers in the region convened on Friday for this year's
8th Agricultural Extension Workers' Congress and World Food day celebration
held at Almont Hotel's Inland Resort, this city.

Said activity was spearheaded by the Department of
Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office 13 through regional director Edna
Mabeza.

Dir. Mabeza disclosed that through the congress,
the agricultural extension workers were able to know the latest trends in
agricultural technology, as well as create new strategies and techniques that
would immediately address the needs of the farmers and fisherfolks especially
in times of disasters brought about by the effects of Climate Change.

"The farmers are the most affected vulnerable
sector when it comes to Climate Change that is why it is very important for us
to discuss more initiatives and strategies to help them," she said.

Mabeza also recognized the presence of all the
participants from the different provinces of the region. "I am very happy
to see that you are very interested to participate in this activity we have
today for it manifests your dedication to your job and tasks as agricultural
extension workers. Let us apply what we will learn from this congress so we can
be a better public servants especially to the most vulnerable sectors - the
farmers and fisherfolks," she expressed.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rowena B. Baconguis, director of
the Institute of Governance and Rural Development of the University of the
Philippines in Los Baños and the event's guest speaker, emphasized that the
government is doing its best to provide the needed services and programs for
the agricultural sector. According to her, mainstreaming climate change is
essential to achieve resilient farming households and farms. Mainstreaming in
the sense of integrating climate change into the agricultural extension sysem
from the national to the local government units.

"Part of the government's adaptation
strategies on climate change include the agriculture subsidy and support
management, private insurance, and resource management program," added
Baconguis.

This year's 8th Agricultural Extension Workers'
Congress is anchored on the theme "Social Protection and Agriculture:
Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty." (JPG/PIA-Caraga)

DTI releases P2M BUB fund to Bayugan City

PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur, Oct. 19 (PIA) – The
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) – Agusan del Sur has released a total of
P2 Million Bottom-Up Budgeting (BUB) funds to Bayugan City recently at the City
Hall of Bayugan City, this province.

The fund released is intended for four projects
namely; Balut Production, One Town One Product (OTOP) Pinoy Express, Supply
Distribution for Electrical Supply Chain and Cassava Processing for P500,000.00
each. These projects are expected to
create 39 enterprises, 64 jobs and has project total annual domestic sales of
P3.5 Million.

The turnover ceremony was attended by the
respective beneficiaries of the projects, City Mayor’s representative Rodel
Versalote, DTI provincial director Lolita I. Dorado, and other BUB
stakeholders. (DTI-Agusan del Sur/PIA-Caraga)

The provincial office of the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Surigao del Norte through its Program Beneficiaries
Development Division conducted the said orientation from October 6 to 9, 2015.

The orientation was conducted by batches and was
attended by ARBs coming from six barangays of Tubajon and four barangays of
Loreto, in the province of Dinagat Islands.

During the orientation, the ARBS were familiarized
on their rights as small farmers and they were also made to understand that it
is important for them to have themselves registered with a DAR-assisted
cooperative because through these organizations they can access government
support, and likewise oriented on their rights and privileges as a member of a
cooperative.

Most importantly, the attendees were also oriented
of the important roles that farmers play in their communities and the country.
(SDR/DAR-SdN/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

100th Negosyo Center launched in Dinagat Islands

By Rose Sheena N. Arnibal

SAN JOSE, Province of Dinagat Islands, Oct. 19
(PIA) – The 100th Negosyo Center in the country is launched in Barangay Sta.
Cruz, this municipality last September 30, 2015. It is a full service center with adequate
facility for entrepreneurs to do business research, avail of business
counselling and many other business development services.

Director Dorecita Delima, Negosyo Center National
Program Manager, considered the launching of the island’s Negosyo Center a
milestone being the 100th center established in the country since 2014. She asked the stakeholders particularly the
private sector, local government units and the academe in Dinagat Islands to be
active partners in sustaining the center.
She also added that unique local products can also be assisted by the
center through Product Development and Market Promotion.

“Kung gaano kaganda ang ating physical space ay
ganun din kaganda ang serbisyo sa ating Negosyo Center," says Luke Buniel,
Program Officer from the Office of the Senator Bam Aquino. He expressed high hopes on the benefits and
services the center can provide to the micro, small and medium enterprises
(MSMEs) in the province. He highlighted
access to market and finance as among the needs to be addressed by the center.

Buniel added that the establishment of Negosyo
Centers around the country is just one of the many advocacies of Senator Bam
Aquino to address poverty through inclusive growth specifically in the
countryside.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Dinagat
Islands officer-in-charge Arnold D. Faelnar expressed his confidence on th role
of the Negosyo Center in the promotion and development of the local industries
of San Jose and the province as well. He
mentioned mineral, aquaculture and marine resources, agriculture and ecotourism
as among the business opportunities for both local and foreign investors that
can be served by the Center.

“A strong partnership would go a long way for the
successful operation of the San Jose Negosyo Center," says OIC Faelnar.

He asked all stakeholders for their commitment to
the program. He also emphasized the challenge of putting together the resources
and expertise of all stakeholders in order to maximize the use of the
facility. (DTI-PDI/PIA-Caraga)

449 file COCs province-wide in SurSur

By Greg Tataro Jr.

TANDAG CITY, Surigao del Sur, Oct. 19 (PIA) – A
total of 449 candidates have filed their respective certificates of candidacy
(COCs) for various elective posts at different COMELEC offices here
province-wide during the five-day filing period on October 12-16.

Of that number, 31, 52, and 366 are respective
aspirants for public office at the provincial, city, and municipal levels.

Except for the congressional seat in the second
district which was highly anticipated by many as a one-on-one duel, all of the
plum posts for gubernatorial, vice-gubernatorial, as well as the representative
for the first district would be a three-cornered fight, based on the COMELEC
tally.

Governor Johnny Pimentel and second district board
member Conrad Cejoco, both incumbents, would be vying for the lone seat as
solon in the second district.

The candidates who filed their COC as
representative for District I include former congressman Prospero “Butch”
Pichay, Jr., former Tago mayor Gregorio Murillo, Jr., plus a virtual unknown, Emecita
Rebaño.

Former governor, now Carrascal mayor Vicente
Pimentel, Jr. wanted to make a comeback as the highest official of the province
but second district representative Florencio Garay and Joseph Arniego had stood
in the way also for the gubernatorial seat.

As for vice-governor, incumbent vice-governor
Manuel Alameda, Sr. will slug it out against two Murillos—Anecito and
Bemmy.

The rest, 20 of them, had made their bid for the
10-seat provincial board, five seats each for the two congressional districts.

Of all the number of candidates for board members,
only seven belong to the first district while 13 hail from the second.

For the first district, all incumbent
administration board members would want to seek for another term—Dr. Mariano Atacador, Henrich Pimentel, Teresita
Donasco, Eleanor Momo, and Glenn Plaza.
But Alfredo Cantalejo and Cesar Bat-ao also went to the poll body to
join the bout.

Likewise, the aspirants who filed their respective
COCs for board members in the second district include incumbents Mary Grace Lim
and Donell Polizon for the administration joined in by Napoleon Velez, Raul
Millan and Mario Alvizo.